A soccer club in the top German league banned its players from getting tattoos — in case the body art gets infected and affects their game.
Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, based in northwestern Germany, told its players that they must not get tattoos during soccer season after a rival player's poorly applied ink became infected last year, German newspaper The Local reported Tuesday.
Eljero Elia, a forward on the Hamburger SV squad, had difficulty putting on his soccer kit at times because the pain from his tattoo was so severe.
Werder Bremen manager Klaus Allofs said, "I do not want to dramatize the danger, but we have pointed out that we ban tattoos that are made during the season. That is a risk that we simply have to exclude."
British superstar David Beckham is famous for his body art, while basketball star Carmelo Anthony and baseball player Jason Giambi are among many well-known US sportsmen who have prominent tattoos.
